Bibliography: McGuire, Thomas J. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, Niderost, Eric. Taffe, Stephen R. The Philadelphia Campaign, Lawrence: The University Press of Kansas, Ward, Christopher.
The War of the Revolution , 2 Vols. New York: The Macmillan Co. Podcast Mount Vernon Everywhere! Learn More. Michael P. Gabriel, Ph. Back to Main menu Center for Digital History. Metro Area. As they withdrew, Brigadier General Anthony Wayne 's division collided with part of Greene's late-arriving wing in the fog. Mistaking each other for the enemy, they opened fire, and both units retreated. Meanwhile, Greene's left-center column threw back the British right.
With Sullivan's column repulsed, the British left outflanked Greene's column. The two militia columns had only succeeded in diverting the attention of the British, and had made no progress before they withdrew. Despite the defeat, France, already impressed by the American success at Saratoga , decided to lend greater aid to the Americans.
Howe did not vigorously pursue the defeated Americans, instead turning his attention to clearing the Delaware River of obstacles at Red Bank and Fort Mifflin. After unsuccessfully attempting to draw Washington into combat at White Marsh, Howe withdrew to Philadelphia.
Washington, his army intact, withdrew to Valley Forge, where he wintered and re-trained his forces. A thick fog clouded the battlefield throughout the day, greatly hampering the coordination between units. The British pickets fired their cannon in alarm, and resisted the American advance.
Howe rode forward, thinking they were being attacked by foraging or skirmishing parties, and ordered his men to hold their ground.
It took a substantial part of Sullivan's division to finally overwhelm the British pickets, and drive them back into Germantown. Howe believed his men were facing only light opposition. Just then, three American guns came into action, opening fire with grapeshot. Howe and his staff quickly withdrew out of range.
Several British officers were shocked to see their own soldiers rapidly falling back before the American attack. Cut off from the main force, Colonel Musgrave, of the British 40th Regiment of Foot, ordered his six companies of troops, around men, to barricade and fortify the stone house of Chief Justice Chew, called Cliveden. The American troops launched a determined assault against Cliveden, however, the outnumbered British defenders repulsed their attempts, inflicting heavy casualties.
Washington called a council of war to decide how to deal with the fortification. Some of his subordinates favored bypassing Clivden entirely, leaving a regiment behind to besiege it. However, Washington's artillery commander, Brigadier General Henry Knox , advised it was unwise to allow a fortified garrison to remain under British control in the rear of a forward advance. Washington agreed with Knox. Brigadier General William Maxwell 's brigade, which had been held in reserve, was brought forward to storm Cliveden.
Knox positioned four 3lb. However, the thick walls of Cliveden withstood the bombardment from the light field guns. The Americans launched a second wave of infantry assaults, all of which were repulsed with heavy losses. The few Americans who managed to get inside the mansion were shot or bayoneted. It was becoming clear to the Americans that Cliveden was not going to be taken easily. Prior to Maxwell's futile attack against Cliveden, Sullivan's division advanced beyond in the fog.
Sullivan deployed Brigadier General Thomas Conway's brigade to the right, and Wayne's brigade to the left before advancing on the British center-left. The 1st and 2nd Maryland Brigades of Sullivan's column paused frequently to fire volleys into the fog.
While the tactic was effective in suppressing British opposition, his troops rapidly ran low on ammunition. Wayne's brigade to the left of the road moved ahead, and became precariously separated from Sullivan's main line. As the Americans launched their attack on Cliveden, Wayne's brigade heard the disquieting racket from Knox's artillery pieces to their rear.
The American retreat was also aided by the onset of darkness. Another Americans were captured. The British suffered more than casualties of their own. Despite the British victory, many Europeans, especially the French, were impressed by the continued determination of the Continental Army. Philadelphia Oct 4, Germantown: Featured Resources.
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